Removal of foil from bottles



April 19, 1932- c. w. GRIFFIN ET AL 3 REMOVAL OF FOIL FROM BOTTLES Filed May 22, 1930 I Inga/alien D Insulation I //v ENT'ORS WITNESSES Q Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. GRIFFIN, OF LYNWOOD, AND LAWRENCE P. SINZ, OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORS IO GEO. J. MEYER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF C'UDAHY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN REMOVAL OF FOIL FROM BOTTLES Application fed May 22 1930. Serial No. 454,671.

The invention relates to a method of removal of foil from bottles.

It is. customaryto wrap the necks of certain beverage bottles with foil which is secured thereon with a suitable adhesive. When cleaning these bottles, difiiculty has been experienced in removing the foil, because the foil resists the action of the usual soaking solution employed in the washing operation.

In order to overcome this difficulty, it is an object of the present invention to eifect the removal or loosening of the foil from the bot-\ tles by an electric current passing through the foil, the current either burning ofl the foil completely or breaking it up into small patches, fragments, or shreds to thereby enable the soaking solution to penetrate beneath the foil and attack the adhesive.

The invention further consists in the method hereinafter set forth and more particular ly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a foil removing apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of the invention, as it appears when operating on a bottle neck, and

Fig. 2 is an elevation of-the apparatus of s- 1.

- In these drawings, representing the device covered in the application of Charles W. Grifiin, Daniel Schmid, and Lawrence P. Sinz for means for removing foil from bottles,

Serial No. 460,736, filed June 12, 1930, the numerals .10- and 11 designate a pair of suitable metal supports which are insulated from each other. An upstanding metal bracket 12 is carried on the support 10 and a pair of similar brackets 13 are carried on the support y 11 at opposite sides of the bracket 12 and laterally spaced therefrom, the brackets being in electrical contact with the respective supports. 2. f f

Resilient metal blades 14 are conductively secured to the brackets 12 and 13 in any suitable manner, as by bolts 15, and have their free end ortions pro'ecting in the same direction. ach of the" lades 14 is here shown to include a pluralit of spring fingers which have laterally exten ing electrodes 16 secured are prevented from touching each other in their nearmost positions by stop arms 17 secured to the brackets 12 and 13 and engageable with the resilient blades 14.

The metal supports 10 and 11 are respectively connected by conductors 18 and 19 with a suitable source of current 20, there being a switch 21 included in the conductor 18. The source of current may furnish either alternating-current or direct-current at a suitable voltage.

In carrying out the method of the invention with this apparatus, a bottle 22, having its neck portion covered with foil 23, is passed between the electrodes 16 in the direction indicated by arrows, with its foil-covered neck portion in engagement with the resilient- .ly-mounted electrodes, the electrodes being completes the circuit from the source of current 20, with the result that current of fusing strength flows through the foil, and by an are or spark discharge either burnsthe foil off completely or separates it; into small patches, fra ments, or shreds. These small pieces of 011 can be easily removed during the washing operation, since the soaking solution can then readily penetrate beneath the foil and attack the adhesive.

In the event that a suflicientl-y high voltage is used it is not necessary that the electrodes touch the foil on the bottle neck during the passage of the bottle with respect to the electrodes. Instead of moving the bottle with respect to the electrodes, the bottle may be stationary, and the electrodes moved past it.

While the bottle is shown to be in inverted position when passing between the electrodes, it may obviously assume any position desired if the electrodes are suitably arranged.

The passage of the bottle between the electrodes and its rotation may be effected by hand, but in practice, this manipulation of conveying means and bottle-rotating means common in the bottlewashing machine art. The method of the invention may be performed by means other than that illustrated in the drawings.

What we claim as-new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of loosening foil from bottles which consists in burning the foil by an electric current flowing through the foil.

2. The method of loosening foil frombottles which consists in subjecting the foil to fusing currents of electricity flowing through the foil.

3. That step in the cleaning of foilcovered bottles which consists in burning the foilby an electric current flowing through the foil.

4. The method of loosening foil from bottles which consists in reducing the foil to 2'0 fragments by an electric current flowing through the foil.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

CHARLES W. GRIFFIN. LAWRENCE P. SINZ. 

